>> and that's a look at today's headlines. the president, just moments away from speaking. >> we'll see you back here immediately after his address for more local news. we're still waiting for the president to step to the podium to make his speech about the war in iraq and the combat ending and a few words about the economy. >> that's right. he's taking the occasion to talk not only about the end of the combat operations but the economy been first and foremost on everybody's mind. he'll make the point that the economy, the most important thing that they have to get working on. primari primarily, get people back to work. >> and they're also working on ending the combat, as you said, the war in iraq began seven years ago and tonight or rather today, he makes the announcement that combat forces will come to an end in that country.

they'll dwindle down in terms of numbers and they'll still help the security forces in iraq with their security. >> one point that the president is expected to make is while the combat mission is technically over the job is not done. there are many thousands of troops, american troops still in iraq who will help the security forces. if the iraqi government comes to the united states and says, we want the troops to leave, that's different. but it could be months, if not years before the actual involvement the is over. >> and vice president joe biden in iraq a couple days ago sort of laying out the groundwork for the end of the combat forces to be in that country. tonight, president obama will make that announcement. he's at the podium right now. >> good evening. tonight, i'd like to talk to you about the end of our combat mission in iraq. the ongoing security at the aend of our combat mission in iraq. the ongoing security challenges we face and the need to rebuild our nation here at home.

i know this historic moment comes at a time of great uncertainty for many americans. we've now been through nearly a decade of war. we've endured a long and painful recession. and sometimes, in the midst of these storms the future that we're trying to build for our nation, the future of lasting peace and long-term prosperity may seem beyond our reach. but this milestone should serve as a reminder to automatic americans that the future is ours to shape. if we move forward with confidence and commitment. we it should serve as a message to the world that the united states of america intends to sustain and strengthen our leadership in this young century. from this desk, seven and a half years ago, president bush announced the beginning of military operations in iraq. much as changed since that night. a war to disarm a straight

became a fight against an insurgency. terrorism and sectarian warfare, threaten to tear iraq apart. thousands of americans gave their lives. tens of thousands have been wounded. our relation as broad were strained. our unity at home was tested. these are the rough waters encountered during the course of one of america's longest wars. if there has been one constant amidst these shifting tides, at every turn america's men and women in uniform have served with courage and resolve. as commander-in-chief i'm incredibly proud of their service. and like all americans, i'm awed by their sacrifice. and by the sacrifices of their families. the american who is have served in iraq completed every mission they were given. they defeated the regime that

had terrorized its people. together with iraqis, and coalition partners who made huge sacrifices of their own, our troops fought block by block, to help iraq seize the chance for a better future. they shifted tactics to protect the iraqi people. trained iraqi security forces and took out terrorist leaders. because of our troops and civilians, and because of the resilience of the iraqi people, iraq has the opportunity to embrace a new destiny. even though many challenges remain. so tonight, i'm announcing that the american combat mission in iraq has ended. "operation iraqi freedom" is over and the iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country. this is my pledge to the american people as a candidate for this office. last february i announced the plan that would bring our combat brigades out of iraq while redoubles our efforts to

strengthen iraq's security forces and support its government and people. that's what we've done. we've removed nearly 100,000 u.s. troops from iraq. we've closed or transferred to the iraqis, hundreds of bases. and we've moved millions of pieces of equipment out of iraq. this completes a transition to iraqi responsibility for their own security. u.s. troops pulled out of iraq cities last summer and the iraqi forces have moved into the lead with considerable skill and commitment to their fellow citizens. even as iraq continues to suffer terrorist attacks, security incidents have been near the lowest on record since the war began. and iraqi forces have taken the fight to al qaeda. removing much of its leadership in iraqi-led operations. this year also saw iraq hold credible elections that drew a strong turnout.

a caretaker administration is in place as iraqi's former government based on the results of that election. tonight, i encourage iraq's leaders to move forward with a sense of urgency. to form an inclusive government that's just, representative and accountable to the iraqi people. and when that government is in place, there should be no doubt. the iraqi people will have a strong partner in the united states. our combat mission is ending. but our commitment to iraq's future is not. going forward, a transitional force of u.s. troops will remain in iraq with a different mission. advising and assisting iraq's security forces. supporting iraq troops and targeted counterterrorism missions. consistent with our agreement with the iraqi government, all u.s. troops will leave by the end of next year. as our military draws down, our

dedicated civilians, diplomats, aide workers and advisers are moving into the lead to support iraq as it strengthens its government and resolves political disputes and builds ties with the region and the world. that's a message that vice president biden is delivering to the iraqi people through his visit there today. this new approach rein effects our long-term partnership with iraq. one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect. of course, violence will not end with our combat mission. extremists will continue to set off bombs, attack iraqi civilians and try to spark sectarian strife. but ultimately, these terrorists will fail to achieve their goals. iraqis are a proud people. they have rejected sectarian war and they have no interesting in endless destruction. they understand in the end only iraqis can resolve their

differences and get their strengths 'only iraqis can build a democracy within their borders. what america can do and will do is provide support for the iraqi people as both a friend and a partner. and ending this war is not only in remark's interest, it's in our own. the united states has paid a huge price to put the future of iraq in the hands of its people. peeve sent our young men and -- we've send our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices and spend our vast resources abroad at times of a tight budget at home. we persevered because of the belief we share with the iraqi people. out of the ashes of war a new beginning could be bourn in this cradle of civilization. we are have met our responsibilities. now it's time to turn the page.

as we do, i'm mindful that the iraq war has been a contentive issue here at home. this afternoon i spoke to former president george w. bush and it's well known that he and i disagreed on the war. but no one can doubt president bush's support for our troops or his love to our country and our commitment to security. as i said, patriots that supported this war and patriots who opposed it. and all of us are united in appreciation for our service men and women and our hopes for iraq's future. the greatness of our democracy is grounded in our ability to move beyond our differences and to learn from our experience as we confront the many challenges ahead. and no challenge is more essential to our security than our fight against al qaeda.

americans across the political spectrum supported the use of form against those who attacked us on 9/11. now, as we approach our tenth year of combat in afghanistan, there are those who are understandably asking tough questions about our mission. but we must never lose sight of what's at stake. as we speak, al qaeda continues to plot against us and its leadership remaining anchored in the border regions of afghanistan and pakistan. we'll disrupt, dismantle and defeat al qaeda. while preventing afghanistan from again, serving as a base for terrorists. and because of our drawdown in iraq, we're now able to apply the resources necessary to go on offense. in fact, over the last 19 months nearly a dozen al qaeda leaders and hundreds of al qaeda's extremist allies have been killed or captured around the world. within afghanistan, i've ordered the deployment of additional troops who, under the command of

general david petraeus are fighting to break the taliban's momentum. as with the surge in iraq, these forces will be in place for a limited time to provide space for the afghans to bimd their capacity and secure their own future. but as was the case in iraq, we can't do for afghans what they must ultimately do for themselves. that's why we're training the afghan security forces and supporting a political resolution to afghanistan's problems. and next august, we'll begin a transition to afghan responsibility. the pace of our troop reductions will be determined by conditions on the ground and our support for afghanistan when do your. but make no mistake, this transition will begin because open-ended war served neither our interest for the afghan people's. indeed, one of the lessons of our effort in iraq is that

american influence around the world is not a function of military force alone. we must use all elements of our power. including our diplomacy, our economic strength and the power of america's example, to secure our interests and stand by our allies. and we must project a vision of the future that's based not just on fears but also, on our hopes. a vision that recognizes the real dangers that exist around the world but also the limitless possibilities of our time. today, old adversaries are at peace. and emerging democracies are potential partners. new markets for goods stretch from asia to the americas. a new push for peace in the middle east will begin here, tomorrow. billions of young people want to move beyond the shackles of poverty and conflict. as the leader of the free world, america will do more than just defeat on the battlefield those

who offer hatred and destruction. we'll also lead among those who are willing to work together to expand freedom and opportunity for all people. now, that effort must begin within our own borders. throughout our history, america has been willing to bear the burden of promoting liberty and human dignity overseas understanding its lengths to our own liberty and security. but we've also understood our nation's strength and influence abroad must be firmly anchored in our prosperity at home. the bedrock of that prosperity must be a growing middle class. unfortunately over the last decade we've not done what's necessary to shore up the foundations of our own prosperity. we spent a trillion dollars at war, financed by borrowing if from overseas. this, in turn, short changed investments in our own people and contributed to record

deficits. for too long we've put off tough decisions on everything from our manufacturing base to our energy policy, to education reform. as a result, too many middle-class families find themselves working harder for less while our nation's long-term competitiveness is put as risk. so at this moment, as we wind down the war in iraq, we must tackle those challenges at home with as much energy and grit and sense of common purpose as our men and women in uniform who have serveds abroad. they have met every test that they faced. now it's our turn. it's our responsibility to honor them by coming together all of us and working to secure the dream that so many generations have fought for. the dream that a better life awaits anyone who is willing to work for it and reach for it. our most urgent task is to restore our economy and put the

millions of americans who have lost their jobs back to work. to strengthen our middle class, we must give all our children the education they deserve and all our workers the skills they need to compete in a global economy. we must jump dab start industries that create jobs and end our dependence on foreign oil. unleash the innovation that allows new products to roll off our assembly lines and nurture the ideas that from our entrepreneurs. this will be difficult. but in the days to come it must be our central mission as a people. and my central responsibility as president. part of that responsibility is making sure that we honor our commitments to those who haved our country with such valor. as long as i'm president, we'll maintain the finest fighting force that the world has ever known. and we'll do whatever it takes to serve our veterans as well as they have served us.

this is a special trust and that's why we made one of the largest increases in funding for veterans in decades. we're treating the signature wounds of today's war, post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury while providing the health care and benefits that all of our veterans have earned. and we're funding a post 9/11 g.i. bill that helps our veterans and families pursue the dream of a college education. just as the g.i. bill helped those that fought world war ii, including my ground father, become the backbone of our middle class, so today service men and women must have the chance to apply their gifts to expand the american economy. because part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who have fought it. two weeks ago, america's final combat brigade in iraq, the army's fourth striker brigade, journeyed home in the predawn darkness. thousands of soldiers and

hundreds of vehicles made the trip from baghdad. the last of them passing into kuwait in the early-morning hours. over seven years before, american troops and coalition partners had fought their way across similar highways. but this time no shots were fired. it was just a convoy of brave americans making their way home. of course, the soldiers left mitch behind. much behind. some were teenagers when the war began. many have served multiple tours of duty far from families who have bore a heroic burden of their own and during the absence of a husbands embrace or a mother's kiss, most painfully, since the war began, 55 members of the fourth striker brigade made the ultimate sacrifice. part of over 4400 americans who have given their lives in iraq. as one staff sergeant said, i

know that to my brothers in arms who fought and died, this day would probably mean a lot. those americans gave their lives for the values that have lived in the hearts of our people for over two centuries. along with nearly 1.5 million americans who have served in iraq, they fought in a far-away place for people they never knew. they stared into the darkest of human creations. war -- and helped the iraqi people seek the light of peace. in an age without surrender ceremonies, we must earn victory through the success of our partners and the strength of our own nation. every american who serves, joins an unbroken line of heroes that stretches from lexington to gettysburg. from caisson to kandahar.

american who is have fought to see that the liveses of our children are better than our own. our troops are the steel in our ship of state. and know our nation may be traveling through rough waters, they give us confidence that our course is true. and that beyond the predawn darkness, better days lie ahead. thank you. may god bless you and may god bless the united states of america and all who serve her. president obama from the oval office, his second speech from that location as president. the first and only other concern, the oil spill. our vote ran of the iraq war is here with us in the studio, richa richard engel who covered the conflict. we saw your live coverage 13 days ago, the president